Division of Property

Of everything negotiated in a divorce, property division is where preparation pays most. Florida applies equitable distribution: assets and liabilities acquired during the marriage are presumptively marital and presumptively divided equally — but "presumptively" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Marital vs. nonmarital — the threshold fight

Before anything is divided, everything must be classified. Property owned before the marriage, and gifts or inheritances received individually, are generally nonmarital — unless they were commingled, retitled, or otherwise converted. An inheritance deposited into a joint account may become marital; a premarital account that received marital deposits may be partially marital. Tracing these lines is exactly the kind of financial work this firm was built for.

When the split shouldn't be 50/50

Where one party seeks more than half, the case is won or lost on the factors in § 61.075(1), Florida Statutes — each spouse's contributions to the marriage (including homemaking and child-rearing), economic circumstances, the duration of the marriage, interruptions to careers or education, contributions to the other's career, and intentional waste or dissipation of assets, among others. Courts do not depart from equality casually; they depart when the evidence is organized and compelling.

Where financial command matters

Marital property includes 401(k)s, pensions, stock and equity compensation, businesses, real estate, and more. Before law school, Michael Mackhanlall held financial licenses and worked in investment banking; the firm works closely with CPAs and valuation experts to make sure nothing is mislabeled, undervalued, or quietly moved.